Izvođač: Uberfall
Izdavač: Samozaložba
Izdanje: 1994
Ocjena: 4.5/5
Uberfall je švicarski sastav koji je djelovao krajem osamdesetih godina prošlog stoljeća i početkom devedesetih. Kako su ipak Švicarci, normalno je da pretpostavimo da neku ulogu igra i Markus Stauss, a s tom pretpostavkom ne bismo pogriješili. Markus opet igra ključnu ulogu u glazbi ovog avangardnog jazz-rock trija i čak doprinosi nekoliko vokalnih dionica (na “Nah und fern” oduševljava nas i repanjem).
“So uferlos im Abendwind” zapravo je kompilacija njihova prva tri studijska izdanja. Za sve skladbe zaslužni su Stauss i Kayser, a mnoge su građene oko sintesajzerskih tema, što je vrlo neobično za Staussove projekte, koji su obično organskiji, ali promjena je svakako osvježenje. Prevladavaju avangarda i jazz-rock, a čujemo i malo kabarea, funka pa i popa. Ovu glazbu teško je usporediti s nekom drugom, ali rekao bih da mračna atmosfera i vokal na nekim dijelovima podsjećaju na rane uratke grupe 5uu’s, kad je pjevač još bio Curt Wilson. Općenito, glazbu je teško gdje svrstati jer i danas zvuči svježe, novo i izvorno. Istodobno je tmurna i duhovita, pozitivna i kritična te također profinjena.
Već sam rekao da sastav povremeno zaluta u pop glazbu, ali prilično je očito da je to parodija, a ne veličanje pop glazbe. To se vidi i u tekstovima, u kojima se rugaju površnosti pop tekstova. Iako je pop zadnja stvar koju žele raditi, rade ga izuzetno dobro jer su melodije vrlo snažne, a glazba krajnje kompaktna. Kad bi mainstream pop zvučao ovako zlokobno, a opet i luckasto i razigrano, rado bih ga slušao. Ovako je parodija puno uvjerljivija. Ali nemoj misliti da je album samo parodija. To je tek mali dio, uglavnom neki vokalni dijelovi, kojih je ionako malo. Ovo je krajnje maštovita glazba koja sebe ne shvaća preozbiljno. Previše je maštovita da bi bila popularna (a to joj je i svrha) i nije toliko izravno komična ni pristupačna da bi zadovoljila mase. Dakle, svrha im je ostvarena.
Iako je riječ o kompilaciji, definitivno se isplati zaroniti u nju jer se studijski albumi mogu nabaviti samo na LP-ima preko izdavača Fazzul Music. Ako te mami nešto nekonvencionalno, zabavno i puno mašte, onda si na pravom mjestu. Također te ne smije smetati što su tekstovi na njemačkom. Uglavnom je riječ o instrumentalnoj glazbi koja zasjenjuje vokalne dijelove, iako nisu nametljivi, čak su zabavni i dobro nadopunjuju glazbu. Naravno, prednost je ako razumiješ njemački jer tekstovi znaju biti pametni i sarkastični, ali sve to nije nužno da bi uživao u glazbi. U svakom slučaju, ovo je album koji bi ljubitelji eksperimentalne glazbe, koja je ipak pristupačna, trebali čuti.
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Uberfall is a Swiss band which was active at the end of the 1980s and the start of the 1990s. Seeing as it is Swiss, it’s natural to assume that Markus Stauss would be involved and you wouldn’t be wrong to think so. Markus again plays a vital role in the music of this avant-garde jazz-rock trio and actually contributes some vocals as well (he even raps on “Nah und fern”).
“So uferlos im Abendwind” is in fact a compilation of their first three studio efforts. The compositions were all done by Stauss and Kayser and a lot of them are based around synthesizer themes, which is a peculiarity for Stauss’s projects (which usually sound more organic), but a refreshing change nevertheless. The prevalent styles are avant-garde and jazz-rock, but we also hear hints of cabaret, funk and even pop. It’s hard to compare this music to anyone else, but I would say that the dark mood and vocals on some pieces remind me of early 5uu’s with Curt Wilson on vocals. Still, for the most part this is impossible to classify because it sounds so fresh, new and original even today. It is dark, humorous, positive, critical and sophisticated at the same time.
As I’ve said, the band occasionally delves into pop music, but it is fairly obvious that they’re making a satire of it rather than glorifying it. This can also be seen in the lyrics, where they mock the casualness of pop music. Even though pop is the last thing they want to do, it’s clear they do it really well as the melodies are immensely strong and the playing very compact. If mainstream pop would sound so sinister, wacky and playful at the same time, I’d gladly listen to it. As it is, a parody of it is that much more convincing. But don’t think this is all this album is. This is only a small portion of it, specifically some of the vocal parts, which are scarce as it is. This is highly clever music, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s too clever to be popular (and that is its purpose) and also not so directly comical or accessible to appease the masses. Their purpose has therefore been achieved.
Although a compilation, this is a very worthwhile purchase as the studio albums are only available through Fazzul Music on LP. If you want something unconventional, amusing and highly imaginative, look no further. And don’t let the fact that the lyrics are in German deter you from delving deeper into their music. For the most part the album consists of instrumental sections, which overshadow the vocal segments, even though they’re not obtrusive and actually provide entertainment and fit in really well. It’s an advantage if you understand the words because they can be quite clever and sarcastic, but it isn’t a necessity in order to enjoy the music. In any case, another album that should be sought out by any fan of experimental yet accessible music.
Postava
Pit Kayser – klavijature, vokal
Andi Muckenhirn – bubnjevi, udaraljke
Markus Stauss – saksofoni, klavijature, vokal (2, 14), efekti, dodaci
gosti: Jean Chaine – električni bas, Caroline Fahrni – violina, André Müller – alt i bariton saksofon
Produkcija
Peter Wustmann
Popis skladbi
1. Treibsand
2. Nah und Fern
3. Positives Lied
4. Happiness
5. Kulturbetrieb
6. So froh
7. Sprachlos
8. Uferlos
9. 24
10. Eiszeit
11. Oh Mensch
12. Alles klar
13. Alles im Griff
14. Rock
15. Abendwind
